Senate bill ups campaign contribution limits

TALLAHASSEE — A Senate committee took the first step Monday toward finding common ground with the House to raise campaign contribution limits while eliminating a type of political committee that critics say are abused by some lawmakers.

There’s still a long way to go before the chambers agree and bill sponsor Sen. Jack Latvala openly questioned the need for items in the legislation (SB 1382). He acknowledged the simple reason he filed it.

“Peace and tranquility with the House,” said Latvala, R-Palm Harbor.

The Senate bill raises campaign contribution limits for statewide office from $500 to $3,000 per election while keeping legislative campaign contributions at the current $500. It also eliminates committees of continuous existence, or CCEs, which are used to raise money that’s supposed to be spent on contributions to candidates, other political committees and political parties. They can’t spend money on things like television ads or other means to sway voters for or against candidates and causes.

It’s a House priority to eliminate the CCEs while the Senate was seeking to tighten regulations on them to prevent lawmakers for using them to take unlimited contributions and then spend the money on expensive meals, entertaining and travel that don’t have anything to do with the political purpose.

But some senators noted that lawmakers can still open other types of political committees and use them to accept unlimited money.

“Money is going to make it into this system and it is an illusion to think we’re going to be able to do anything to limit that,” said Tom Lee, R-Brandon. “All we can hope for is that we’re creating a system where it’s easier to follow the money and that the individuals who raised it are more accountable for who they took it from and where they spent it.”

The bill would also require candidates to file campaign finance reports more often. Latvala said the number that would be filed from the date candidates qualify for the ballot until the election would increase from eight to 21.

The House bill (HB 569) raises contribution limits to $10,000 for any office, an amount the Senate committee members felt was too high. It also allows lawmakers to carry over $100,000 from their campaign accounts as long as they use it for re-election. The Senate bill sets the rollover amount at $20,000.